Waking up in Berlin

I woke up in Berlin this morning. It's quite a surreal feeling especially since only less than 24 hours ago I was packing furiously as the San Diego Chargers were getting hopelessly murdered by the Atlanta Falcons (thanks for nothing on those fantasy points, Rivers). Apparently, packing furiously doesn't mean you will bring everything that you need; it was only in the airplane that I realized I had forgotten my power plug for my laptop. Commence face palm.

I'm used to plane rides so it was somewhat hard to get into the mind set that I was going to Europe. That changed when I landed in Frankfurt instead of Asia-Pacific and all of the ads were in German. Once I hopped on the bus from Tegel airport to a U-Bahn station, then it really hit me-"oh shit, I'm in Berin...hell yeah".

The weather at night reminds me somewhat of San Francisco sans the fog that engulfs anything and everything. The first night rained sporadically. Luckily, bars here don't have to close at 2am so you can take refuge as long as you want. So far I'm loving the atmosphere, though I probably need to get out of this neighborhood to hear less of American.

I'm writing this from the hostel lounge while the stereo is pumping house music. It was either that or my room of 8, full of snorers singing whale noises in chorus. I'm on a strange mix of jet lag and caffeine from this coffee: energized and cracked out at the same time.

Now it's time to explore this city of history and wonder...Until 8PM when the hostel begins happy hours (€1 a beer).

Tokyo Bay Bridge

The Tokyo Bay Bridge. Pretty up close and intimidating looking. Almost looks like a spaceship.

Tokyo Tower and Cherry Blossoms

Warm night in Tokyo; so I decided to take a walk.

Perfect hanami kind night...so naturally drunk Japanese people very everywhere (mind you, new employees are just starting so welcome party is part of it).

Anyhoo, nice scenery with the cherry blossoms and the Tokyo Tower together.

Spring time

Still a bit windy in Japan and a but chilly at times. But cherry trees are blossoming in full force.

In Japan, April is the both the graduation and school start season. It's also the time when new graduates begin their new job. Needless to say a busy and eventful time of the year. So cheery blossoms help mark that time of the season.

What small really means

Suitable for shot gun beginners.

Relaunch of Kentapalooza

Following a hiatus, I've decided to restart Kentapalooza. I'll be posting pictures from around the world I've been meaning to blog.

On that note, I present to you Japanese wine cartons. Available at your local Japanese supermarkets.

Clarke Quay

Clarke Quay is a popular hangout spot in Singapore built around Singapore River. As you can see it's a pretty awesome spot to walk around at night hammered with all them lights.

What we'd consider cheap beer in America can be otherwise in Singapore. For example Corona is more expensive than Heineken. So while in Singapore, I suggest drinking Tiger Beer. Lager is definitely the way to go in this humid country (plus the weather is always the same, hello equator).

Apparently Mexican restaurants in Singapore don't know what tacos are. I don't know how you can be a Mexican restaurant and NOT serve tacos. McDonald without burgers? No way.

Pattaya beach

You'd think a morning walk on the beach would be nice and breezy. Wrong. After a 30min walk I looked like I went through a dunk tank.

Pattaya

Three views from the balcony of my room in Holiday Inn Pattaya. Pattaya is about two hours away from Bangkok by car. There's a long stretch of boardwalk along the beach, kinda like Pacific Beach/Mission Bay plus the sweat inducing humidity. Also unlike PB, where the night ends after 2, this place never sleeps.

Bangkok Dangerous

A view of Soi Cowboy, a red light district in Bangkok. It's pretty much everything chaotic and shady about Asia compressed into a block. In all honesty I like to enjoy my beer without getting ht on by hookers every five min. Hello, my eyes are up here.

Suvarnabhumi Airport

In case you have to write the English words above in Thai. The cab we caught to get to Bangkok was definitely a rice rocket, complete with light shows and over the top exhaust noise. By the way, two-second rule, the door is that way.

You'd be awed by the sheer number of cabs in shocking pink.

Ferris Wheel

Singapore Flyer is currently the tallest ferris wheel in the world. It's so big you can't see where it is when you're next to it.

In Singapore for most of this week. Apparently there's an F1 race this weekend in Singapore. The city is shutting down the roads in preparation for the race in the city. Hopefully I will be able to catch it...If anything I'll be able to hear the race. Vroom vroom.

Speaker Bear

This bear can be hooked to an iPod and plays music from its built in speaker. That's the boring part. The fun part is that the bear dances to the music played.

Apartomento

View from the apartment's balcony. Summer hasn't quite ended in Japan so a morning chill session in the balcony can't quite be nice and breezy just yet. Say what? 80+F and 80% humidity? Alright, back in the room, hello AC.

What you see in the bottom left of the picture is a monorail. Yes, there is a monorail that runs near the apartment.

Japanese Train

The Yamanote Line, which runs around in a circle in Tokyo, is probably the most used train line in Tokyo (if not Japan). The great thing about this line is that because it runs in circle, the turn around is pretty damn quick. Even if you miss a train, another one would show up within two minutes. And always on time...I'm talking to you Caltrain.The screen also shows trivia quizzes to keep you entertained while you're getting squished with what feels like five million other people.

Herro Kitty

Note to self: Bring a lot of cash because an American card isn't good for getting cash in Japan. Nara especially lacks ATMs that are American friendly. The only place equipped with such ATM, is 711, which had been my life line. This morning I went there to get cash seeing that I had 200 yen (about $3). I thought I got lost because I couldn't find the place for the life of me...Then I realized the place shutdown.

I went to about 4 different places with no luck. I was supposed to take the bullet train from Kyoto to Tokyo. But with 200 Yen, I couldn't even get from Nara to Kyoto. So finally I collected donations to get myself from Nara to Kyoto, then finally to Tokyo...Barely alive.

And now I present you....A Herro Kitty suitcase.

Yakitori

At a hole in the wall Yakitori place called Sumi Bozu. I sat next to a guy who told me about taking the Amtrak (or, as the guy called it, "the Amtlak) from LA through Las Vegas to Chicago. He said often times trains to more obscure places would only leave once a day so he would need plan the trip out considering all the delays (this all before the Internet).

Toilet panel

No it's not for controlling a stereo system, or oven, or lighting. It's a toilet control panel. Mostly for your butt.

Dock

View from the bus en route from Kansai Airport to Nara.

Turbobass

At Double Dutch. A wall of boombox. Boom.